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Parenting

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3 year old isn’t eating after norovirus

24 replies

L0ts · 23/10/2022 21:38

So my poor boy was just getting done with a chest infection when he got struck down with norovirus Thursday evening. He was sick a lot that night but it slowed down and Friday morning he seemed in good spirits. He suddenly went super sleepy which is unheard of for him and he took a gigantic 2/3 hour nap. As soon as he woke up he was sick again, that was the last time he was sick, so over 48 hours a go.

He then spent all of yesterday sleeping, I haven’t been too worried because he’s having wet nappies, still drinking a fair bit and hasn’t had any sort of temperature. However, today he has spent the majority of the time rubbing his tummy and crying, I can also hear it rumbling as though he’s hungry.

Now this is where it gets difficult, he does have autism and is very behind on his speech, communication and understanding so it is very hard for us to figure out what’s wrong with him and he also doesn’t understand us a great deal.

I’m totally understanding of how he’s feeling because me and my partner both came down with it a day later and we both feel so horrendous and don’t want to eat but know we probably need to.

We’ve tried offering him absolutely everything in existence, he has taken the tiniest bites from things but that’s about it, I just don’t know what to do for him 😢😢😢 He’s currently just crying and crying, I’m really at a loss!

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 23/10/2022 21:39

Will he take milk or juice?

HS1990 · 23/10/2022 21:41

Sorry to hear this, I hope he gets better soon. My daughter is currently recovering from RSV virus and she always loses her appetite when she's sick.

Have you tried putting his fav foods cut up into small pieces and in a muffin tray? Or pack him a lunch box with things he likes (doesn't matter if you're staying home, it's just the novelty of having the lunch box that makes it exciting).

Hope it gets easier v soon x

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/10/2022 21:50

It's early days though. I had norovirus about a month ago, and it took the best part of a week to get my appetite back.

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L0ts · 23/10/2022 21:59

@MajorCarolDanvers Well, he just got done with breastfeeding but I have offered it to him and he’s happily taking it but I’m not sure if I’m even producing milk anymore tbh.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads It’s really annoying because all you hear and read is that it takes 48 hours and essentially you’re over it but from talking to other mums, it takes much longer to recover from.

@HS1990 Thank you, it is truly the most awful thing I think I’ve ever been through, I was so poorly myself yesterday I almost took myself off to the maternity ward to be monitored (I’m 27 weeks pregnant which of course isn’t helping at all 🥴) I’ve offered things whole, cut up, on his plate, in his chair downstairs, in our bed.. he really won’t take anything 😩 I feel truly hopeless.

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justasking111 · 23/10/2022 22:02

My old GP said to get a little ones appetite going again give them chocolate. It did work

L0ts · 23/10/2022 22:04

@justasking111 We’ve been trying with his favourites all day, these include chocolate digestives and Bourbon biscuits, won’t even touch them 😩 The only things we’ve managed to get him to nibble a tiny bit of was a plain burger bun, a bite out of a pitta bread pizza and he took a crisp off me, had one bite and gave it me back.

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Justworkplease · 23/10/2022 22:12

Oh bless him 😓 My DS (almost 2) had it a couple of weeks ago and it was horrendous 😓 I also caught it so we didn’t have a great time here 😬 His poor belly was grumbling away like mad!

It took about 5/6 days for my DS to start eating properly again and he’s usually a very good eater. I had spoken to the GP because on day 2 he couldn’t even keep water down and I was concerned about dehydration. The doctor told me not to worry if he didn’t eat at all for 3/4 days (obviously they’re all different so that’s not my medical advice 😊 Just what I was told!) and just to concentrate on trying to keep fluids in him.

He loves helping me cook so I ended up trying to distract him by us making banana pancakes together and he was nibbling away on those. I then just sat out small plates of snacks for him and left them beside him and he eventually started taking more and more. He’s far more fussy now than he was though which I’m hoping is just a phase and will pass 🤞🏼😬

Sandcastlesinthesky · 23/10/2022 22:12

God it’s so worrying. My dd has had confirmed ( stool sample tested) norovirus twice in the last month. It’s taken a long time to get over it. She last vomited about a week ago but her appetite is only slowly coming back now. As long as he’s drinking, give the food time.

Justworkplease · 23/10/2022 22:15

Sandcastlesinthesky · 23/10/2022 22:12

God it’s so worrying. My dd has had confirmed ( stool sample tested) norovirus twice in the last month. It’s taken a long time to get over it. She last vomited about a week ago but her appetite is only slowly coming back now. As long as he’s drinking, give the food time.

@Sandcastlesinthesky Oh gosh, your poor DD having it twice so close together 😓 It was bad enough having it once, nevermind twice 😓

justasking111 · 23/10/2022 22:21

L0ts · 23/10/2022 22:04

@justasking111 We’ve been trying with his favourites all day, these include chocolate digestives and Bourbon biscuits, won’t even touch them 😩 The only things we’ve managed to get him to nibble a tiny bit of was a plain burger bun, a bite out of a pitta bread pizza and he took a crisp off me, had one bite and gave it me back.

When I said chocolate I meant chocolate button type sweets. There's something in the sugar hit and the meltiness that stimulates the appetite again

inappropriateraspberry · 23/10/2022 22:22

It can take a while for their appetite to return. I'd take the pressure off and just leave some food out that he can help himself to if he wants it.
My 4 year old was sick the other day and it took a while for him to be back to eating a full meal again.

HS1990 · 23/10/2022 22:24

My daughter always seems to eat better after fresh air so maybe a walk or park visit and take a packed lunch x

YoBeaches · 23/10/2022 22:33

It took my 2 yr old Over a week for her tummy to recover after norovirus so it's prob just a bit early so long as he's drinking fluids that's the main things. Ice pops - plain Mr Freeze type ones can be great as they have a bit of flavour but good for hydration.

Yogurt might also be tempting at this stage. He could also stilll have tummy ache so if you think he's in pain try calpol then offer something a while after.

But, he would probably eat if he felt like it and a virus like that does take its toll on little new tummies.

Hope you are all back to normal soon.

MzHz · 23/10/2022 22:35

My ds never eats when he’s ill- it passes, just let him keep nibbling and make sure he has enough to drink. My little one is a huge hulking teen now and still if he’s not well he stops eating for a while.

MajorCarolDanvers · 23/10/2022 22:36

Well, he just got done with breastfeeding but I have offered it to him and he’s happily taking it but I’m not sure if I’m even producing milk anymore tbh

If you can get him to take any kind of milk - breast or cows milk that will get some protein and nutrients into him.

Juice will get some sugar in.

Either will give him some energy and get his tummy used to having something in it and keep him hydrated.

Sandcastlesinthesky · 23/10/2022 22:48

Justworkplease · 23/10/2022 22:15

@Sandcastlesinthesky Oh gosh, your poor DD having it twice so close together 😓 It was bad enough having it once, nevermind twice 😓

It’s been awful. I’m emetaphobic so my nerves haven’t quite recovered tbh.

LifeIsHardAlways · 23/10/2022 22:56

Totally relate to you, my son is a bit older and nonverbal autism. He had a sick bug a few months ago (ended up in hospital). He didn’t eat for a week and it worried me silly! He tried a few times but he just couldn’t manage it. He has an immensely restricted diet and weirdly it was a completely new food he tried that got him eating again. Dr also recommended getting some juice in him for the sugar, which we did manage a bit. He lost a lot of weight but he did eventually eat and he’s put all the weight back on and more.

Its scary, but they will be alright eventually. Just give it time 😊

L0ts · 24/10/2022 08:44

Thank you so much everybody!

All he’s managed over night is a couple bites out of a bun 😩 But is still drinking water! Would love for him to take juice but he just spits it out. He has woke and had breast milk again, seemed happy enough, but after going downstairs for breakfast he has started crying again! 😔 I wouldn’t feel too bad if he wasn’t crying, but it’s breaking my heart as I guess that’s the only way he knows to communicate with me that something is wrong.

I don’t know wether to ring the doctors once they’re open as he’s now back to coughing loads again? I’m not even sure what they can do at this point as I know it’s normal to lose your appetite after any sort of bug but it’s the crying that’s worrying me and the fact he can’t communicate. Gosh it’s seriously been the toughest few days ever 😩😩

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L0ts · 24/10/2022 08:55

Oh my god, he’s happily sat downstairs picking ever so slowly at some toast and dry cereal.. I don’t want to jinx it but fingers crossed! 🤞🏻

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Justworkplease · 24/10/2022 22:00

L0ts · 24/10/2022 08:55

Oh my god, he’s happily sat downstairs picking ever so slowly at some toast and dry cereal.. I don’t want to jinx it but fingers crossed! 🤞🏻

@L0ts how did he get on today OP? Did he manage to eat anything else?

theotherfossilsister · 07/12/2024 17:16

Hello, know this is an old thread but when did he start eating again please? Just experiencing same

justasking111 · 07/12/2024 20:04

My GP said chocolate would stimulate their appetite. It worked really well.

L0ts · 07/12/2024 22:56

@theotherfossilsister Hi! I think from what I remember he really was out of sorts for a good week and a half maybe. He started eating ever so slowly but his proper appetite didn’t come back for probably 1.5-2 weeks!

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theotherfossilsister · 08/12/2024 20:24

@L0ts thank you!x

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